05 Mar Give it Up!
The year is flying by and we are now already in the season of Lent. Lent is a season for us to reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and to reflect on our own lives and what we can sacrifice for Him.
Many of us have started our respective fasts and have given up something that we really enjoy. Maybe we have given up red meat or sweets. Maybe we are in the midst of a Daniel Fast or a structured corporate fast. Perhaps we have given up TV shows, social media or some other form of entertainment. Whatever we have chosen as our “sacrifice” we have chosen it with the intent of focused prayer and a renewed relationship with God.
All these things we give up are great but we should also consider using this time to give up some of our habitual bad habits and sins; to give up the things we do that pull us away from God. We can fast and pray for forty days but if we do it without repentance, without a true heart for change, what does it mean?
John 3:16 says, “for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God sacrificed His Son for us! What better way for us to sacrifice for Him than by “denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Him (Matt 16:24).” Following Jesus requires obedience and it requires daily denial of our flesh. During this season of Lent, let us reflect on the true sacrifice that Jesus made for us and let us commit to making a true sacrifice for Him.
Reflection: What are you giving up for Lent?
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